Article August 3, 1935 Issue

A Lesson in Perseverance

JENNIE SCHOFIELD

One day a group of children rain into their schoolroom apparently much disturbed. The explanation which followed revealed that a nest belonging to a pair of robins had been blown down by a windstorm. The disappointment of the children was keen, for they had eagerly watched the birds building the nest through days of patient, persevering toil; and now it lay shattered on the ground. But the teacher immediately turned the attention of the children to the joyous song of one of the robins, which was even then coming into the room through the open window. It was pointed out that instead of being discouraged, the robin was joyfully singing in the sunshine and warmth after the storm, and that soon the two would choose a new and better place in which to build their nest.

During the noon hour, to the great joy of the children, the robins were seen with grass and mud in their beaks. Straight to the same tree they flew, and this time the site chosen for the nest was in a secure crotch of the tree where no wind could harm the precious nest.

That this beautiful lesson in perseverance became a part of the thinking of those boys and girls was revealed some time later. A little nine-year-old boy sat struggling with a problem in long division when the teacher asked if she might help him. His quick response was: "No, thank you, I am going to stick to it until I get it, it it takes all day. That's the way the robins did."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Solving the Problems of Youth